A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004), and did graduate work in Musicology. He serves as choirmaster for the new FSSP parish in Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife and two children.

"Like all other liturgical functions, like offices and ranks in the Church, indeed like everything else in the world, the religious service that we call the Mass existed long before it had a special technical name."
— Rev. Adrian Fortescue (1912)

ONSIGNOR M. Francis Mannion served as director of the Mundelein Liturgical Institute from 2000-2002. He recently penned an article asserting that social justice is the only thing vital to the Catholic Church, and everything else (even doctrine) amounts to “footnotes.”

Anyone who’s attained the age of reason knows that the most important social justice work is to oppose the murder of innocent life. After all, the “soup kitchens” mentioned in Mannion’s article aren’t much good to somebody who’s dead. However, Pro-Life work is not the only valid form of social justice work: one can minister to prisoners, fight against euthanasia, clothe the naked, feed the poor, and so forth.

Pope Francis has been outspoken in his opposition to the murder of innocent life. You can read some his quotes by clicking here. In his most recent document, Evangelii Gaudium (11/24/2013), Francis lashed out at abortion supporters in several places, reminding us that “defense of unborn life is closely linked to the defense of each and every other human right.”

At the same time, during an interview with La Civiltà Cattolica (9/30/2013), Pope Francis said it is false to contend that things like opposition to abortion constitute the whole of the Catholic Faith. Rather, Christ must be at the center. However, opposition to abortion is (needless to say) part of being Catholic, as Pope Francis reminded us on 20 September: “Each unborn child unjustly condemned to abortion bears the face of Jesus Christ, bears the face of the Lord.”

WE HAVEALL ENCOUNTERED at one time or another people who say, “Everyone can believe as he wishes and nobody should be allowed to prevent this.” However, forcing their rule upon everyone contradicts their rule! Others say, “There’s no such thing as absolute truth.” But the question they won’t answer is, “Is that something which is true?”

Likewise, it is strange to read an article by Msgr. Mannion which downplays dogma and doctrine as “footnotes,” while that very article imposes a new dogma on the entire human race. Specifically, consider Paul Kennedy’s assertion (as quoted in Mannion’s article):

The litmus test [of Christian faith] is whether you help the unknown, the desperate-looking person at the soup kitchen, the beggar on the street. All else is footnotes. What matters is your reaching out to help. That’s the sole question you will be asked when you reach the Pearly Gates.

Kennedy’s view (writes Msgr. Mannion) is “fundamentally correct.”

Yet, I’ve never seen such a dogma articulated by the Catholic Church. If I’m wrong, please send an email (using the “Contact Us” at the top) citing such a document.

Msgr. Mannion and Pope Francis have presented us with two conflicting notions of the “essence” of the Catholic Faith: they cannot both be correct. I grant that Francis’ interviews are not intended as magisterial teaching. Instead, they’re similar to Pope Benedict XVI’s Jesus of Nazareth (Vol. 3), which B16 specifically said was not intended as part of magisterial teaching. However, in my humble opinion, Pope Francis is spot on. In particular, I think of folks who skip Sunday Mass because they’re too busy promoting social justice. Another example I’ve seen with my own eyes is a mother so busy doing Pro-Life work that she neglects her own children. Both are wrong.

POPE BENEDICT’S BROTHER brought up the Second World War in this special interview. What was it like to live in Germany during those years? Many brave Catholics risked everything to save innocent lives. What would we have done? I have a feeling many of us would have found excuses not to put ourselves at risk.

Those who know very little history are often critical of Cardinal Pacelli, who was willing to sign a concordat with Hitler (see photo above with Cardinal Pacelli and Msgr. Alfredo Ottaviani). They say things like, “Oh, I would never have dealt with the Nazis.” And yet, these same people won’t lift a finger in defense of innocent life. Our own country has murdered more than 55 million innocent babies and continues even as I type these words! A few days ago, Cardinal Burke mentioned that we are living in a modern-day holocaust.

Yet, most of us choose not to think about such “uncomfortable” truths. We’d rather go about our business and not get involved. Even though social justice work does not constitute the fullness of our Faith (see above), let us pray to God for strength follow His Will, even if He calls us to heroic acts of charity.

Editor’s Note: From time to time, we will examine articles made public on the internet. Any critical observations are not intended in a polemical way, but rather in the service of truth. If you do not find such reflections valuable, please ignore them.

Opinions expressed by blog contributors do not necessarily represent those of Corpus Christi Watershed.|If you appreciate this blog, please consider donating $5.00 per month. We have no major donors, no salaried employees, and no endowment.

Priests have expressed concern about throwing the Word of God into the garbage every few months. The Isaac Jogues Illuminated Missal contains the complete Sunday readings for Years ABC, complete Gradual texts, and magnificent page layouts.

Watershed assisted the Birmingham Oratory with media work leading up to the Papal visit and Beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman. Our documentary shorts provide online tours of the Oratory, including the Cardinal’s Room and Library as well as the parish church and its chapels.

St. Jennings was executed for being a Catholic priest. Seized whilst in the act of saying Mass in the house of St. Swithun Wells, he was hanged, drawn and quartered outside the same house. His execution was particularly bloody. St. Swithun Wells was hanged immediately afterwards.

This new Gregorian Chant Mass (with optional organ accompaniment) uses the new ICEL translation of the Roman Missal. We provide free practice videos, vocalist scores in modern and Gregorian notation, congregational booklets, and much more!

Kevin Allen's brilliant new SATB collection of twelve (12) Sacred Motets that can be used all throughout the Liturgical year. 144 Practice videos by Matthew J. Curtis. Optional Psalm tones written out for each piece, in Latin & English.

Here is a newly-composed Gregorian Chant GLORIA in honor of Saint Edmund Arrowsmith (†1628). Please feel free to download the PDF organist scores, PDF vocalist scores (in both Modern and Gregorian notation). This setting uses the new ICEL translation of the Roman Missal.

A 70-page collection of polyphonic Motets that can be sung by the average parish choir! Although the pieces were designed for SSA or TTB choirs, they also work well for mixed choirs. Matthew has also recorded 56 free practice videos to help your choir members learn these beautiful pieces.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father . . .

If you have an SATB choir that would love a brand new collection of dignified, beautiful, not-too-difficult motets, you need to check out Kevin Allen's "Cantiones Sacrae Simplices." Vocal phenomenon Matthew J. Curtis has also recorded more than 144 practice videos which carefully instruct singers who do not read music well. All 144 training videos are free!

Watershed assisted the Birmingham Oratory with media work leading up to the Papal visit and Beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman. Our documentary shorts provide online tours of the Oratory, including the Cardinal’s Room and Library as well as the parish church and its chapels.

Distinguished composer Kevin Allen has set twelve Eucharistic Motets for three voices. Although the pieces were designed for SSA or TTB choirs, they also work well for mixed choirs, and a special transposition table has been included for the ease of the choirmaster. Choirmasters and singers will appreciate the fact that these pieces are not difficult to sing.

An hour-long documentary on Sacred Music. Watershed's cameras take you inside the 19th annual Sacred Music Colloquium, sponsored by the Church Music Association of America. The DVD includes a 45-minute, never-before-seen interview with Dr. William Mahrt, CMAA President & Stanford Professor.

The Rt. Rev'd Dom Hervé Courau, Abbat of Notre Dame de Triors, has authorised Watershed to post the Community's Gregorian chant recordings on our sites. For this gracious permission, sincere thanks to Father Abbat, also in the name of all those chanters who will profit from studying these beautiful sung prayers of the Church.

John Henry Newman was born in London (2/21/1801) and died in Birmingham (8/11/1890). As Vicar of St Mary’s Oxford he exerted a profound spiritual influence on the Church of England. Through his extensive published writings and private correspondence he created a greater understanding of the Catholic Church.

This is part of our ongoing Liturgical work, and we are grateful to the many guest composers who generously donate their scores. In addition, we offer free resources for all the other parts of the Mass, and currently provide more than 6,000 free Liturgical scores.

Kevin Allen's world-famous SATB "Tantum Ergo" is now in print. This piece has been enjoyed by many thousands of people, and is featured as the opening piece on "Sacred, Beautiful, & Universal: Colloquium XIX." Corpus Christi Watershed is proud to offer this Motet, along with fourteen other beautiful Motets, in "Cantiones Sacrae II."

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